Bentley stars but Robins still undone by impressive Royals
Talking points from Bristol City’s Championship defeat to Reading, by
THAT’S just one point taken against the top six sides in the Championship for Bristol City now (with a very tough fixture against Brentford to play).
The Robins have struggled against the best teams in the division this campaign, but is this a sign of the stretch of quality in teams across the Championship or just City finding their natural place in the pecking order?
Dean Holden’s side were not particularly outplayed in the first half at the Madejski on Saturday and, though forced back, the Robins were mainly only troubled by long shots and the odd cross, with an acrobatic volley by Yakou Meite the closest Reading came to scoring. The second half was much different and the Robins fell apart - not getting on the front foot until they were a goal behind.
Ovie Ejaria gave the hosts the lead, cutting inside and unleashing a low shot from the edge of the box which took a deflection off Zak Vyner to beat Dan Bentley.
Nahki Wells levelled with just City’s second attempt on goal, pouncing on a loose ball from a free-kick and tucking the ball under Rafael Cabral. But City’s parity was shortlived when Michael Olise’s superbly weighted through ball sent Meite clear to slot past Bentley, before Lucas Joao sealed the points from close range after a counter-attack in stoppage-time.
A bad day at the office for City as they struggled to contain the Royals’ crown jewels but one always likely to crop up given that recent performances have not been the most convincing and the players that are missing. One to chalk off and put right at QPR.
DEFENSIVE OFF-DAY
SATURDAY was the day when Bristol City’s makeshift defence reached its ceiling. After eight consecutive halves of football without conceding - a good achievement and portent to future success - the Robins were undone by Reading’s potent front three.
All three Royals attackers had found the net by the end of the game. And it took a big deflection off Vyner for the outstanding Bentley to be beaten, with the City goalkeeper having his own private battle against Meite across the afternoon.
City’s back three did not cover themselves in glory and, if Vyner was too deep for the opener, then Taylor Moore was losing the ball too easily at other times and may have collected a red card for a twofooted lunge, while Tommy Rowe and Jay Dasilva struggled to contain Meite, with Dasilva caught in a bad position for the vital second goal when he played the Reading forwards onside.
A rare off-day then. The last time that happened (Norwich at home) City bounced back to concede just one goal in the next four games. A similar turnaround is not out of the equation, especially given that club captain Tomas Kalas is due to return and the next five fixtures are mostly favourable (QPR, away, 15th; Birmingham, home, 17th; Blackburn, home, 9th; Rotherham, away, 19th; Millwall, home, 11th).
BRILLIANT BENTLEY
IF there was one huge positive for City on Saturday it is the continued development of Bentley this season.
Late in the last campaign, Bentley briefly lost his place to Niki Maenpaa, but the former Brentford player bounced back and ended the season in better form, before being a big part of this season’s
good start. In recent weeks, the 27-year-old has raised his standards again, with a wonder save to deny Domingos Quina on Wednesday evening followed up by a running battle against Lucas Joao and Saturday’s arch-nemesis Meite. The pair managed 12 shots on goal by the end (six on target), indicative of City’s woes, but credit to Bentley that he was only beaten once by both.
A string of top saves kept City in the game for large periods, including a great one-on-one stop to deny Meite and another to reach down low to deny the same player scoring from a promising position. Reading’s right-sided attacker had seven shots in the game but was wasteful or stopped by City’s best player over the last weeks.
CITY DARK ARTS OR JUST SHEER CLUMSINESS?
TAYLOR Moore did not have the best of games at the Madejski and he triggered some angry scenes on and off the pitch in the second half as he slid in two-footed to win a loose ball that had the home side baying for a red card, and the away dugout in agreement with referee Jeremy Simpson for immediately issuing a yellow card.
Chris Martin was then booked for a crude foul on Liam Moore, who had earlier been caught by a flailing arm from Famara Diedhiou. Cyncial play or just overly physical challenges with no malice?
We give Holden’s side the benefit of the doubt but few from the home side did. And of more concern is a stuttering City attack that has only
scored more than one goal once in the past nine games (the 2-1 win at Huddersfield).
FIERY PAUNOVIC AND RED-HOT READING
OPPOSITION boss Veljko Paunovic was incensed by Moore’s two-footed tackle and his bench clashed with City’s after the incident. From our view it looked to be Paul Simpson getting most of the tongue-lashing as former Manchester United midfielder and Reading coach Quinton Fortune placated Holden.
Paunovic apologised on his postmatch press conference, admitting he had over-reacted, saying “this is just football” and revealing he had apologised to the City bench too (accepted by Holden after the game - “I don’t hold grudges”).
“Sometimes I can be like that. The pressure was building and I love that. I overreacted at one point and I apologise for that,” said Paunovic.
“It’s a passionate game and I am a passionate guy. I have learned to control myself. It was important the players see the reaction and how passionately we live the game on the sidelines.
“My reaction was triggered but I don’t want to talk about that. It’s part of the game and what happens on the sidelines stays on the sidelines.”
His team were on fire at times too, with the front three - with Joao in particular - too hot to handle. Their attack looks very useful and the Royals look to be a decent outfit this season.